From Hawaii to Guam, Malaysia, Maldives, Oman, and Bahrain

[Dave Bennett]

As many of my friends here know, I have been out of pocket for some time now traveling the seas from San Diego to the Far East and beyond with a few friends of mine.

Obviously, I cant share anything current other than that after a long drought, I am finally in Bahrain at the Chiefs' Club enjoying an ice cold Victoria Bitter (V-B) :beer:

Here's a few pictures I'd like to share with you all!

After San Diego we went to Pearl Harbor. USS Arizona Memorial and the USS Missouri seen here from our bridge as we are leaving for Guam.

Penang, Malaysia (aka George Town) was a blast. Lots to see and do here although the sea water quality kept me on dry land here.

Fort Cornwallis, Penang. This was the original British presence in the region, before Singapore was established.

The Maldives. You MUST go there - absolutely the best place I have ever been for snorkeling, diving, spearfishing and just going native. Here's a shipwreck we saw between Madivaru and Hinnavuru islands, Lhavviyani Atoll.

When not working we were in the water. At night we ate like kings!

Sultanate of Oman. A nice collection of Toyota 70 Series Land Cruisers and a Hilux

Omani Army Mantra. This would make a sweet overlander!

Omani Army Pinzgauer

Omani Army Land Rover. The Omani's have all the cool rigs!

 

[UK4X4]

Man, you could of at least pm'd me I could have shown you the town....

well what there is of it..

Muscat ..............

yep see those type of trucks all the time, both in town and the desert

 

[Dave Bennett]

I spent most of my time in the Dhofar Mountains north of Salalah, quite a road trip from Muscat! We went in to Salalah a few times, I toured the Sultan Qaboos Hospital there (very good facility with great english speaking staff and doctors if you are ever sick or injured in Oman!).

We also made the mandatory visit to the Oasis Club at the Port of Salalah for a much needed break (well known watering hole for all the expats there and owned by a very nice South African guy).

 

[UK4X4]

Ok thats a 1000km worth of excuse.......across a very boring flat desert

yep I probably would'nt of droped by..........mountains here are pretty much all the same - bare rock

enjoy the VB !

we get a real oddball selection here- spain-uk-thai-german-Oz-and the odd case of SA beer.

I just waiting for the next shipment of 5ltr wine boxes from SA as I drunk the local shop out of red:coffeedrink:

 

[DiploStrat]

Great Trip!

Great pictures!

Is the Missouri being opened as a museum on Battleship Row?

 

[Dave Bennett]

Great pictures!

Is the Missouri being opened as a museum on Battleship Row?

Thanks DiploStrat!

Yes, she is open now. I remember standing at the deckplate where the Japanese surrender was signed as a kid, she used to be moored at Bremerton, Washington not far from where I grew up. They did the right thing by posting her at Pearl - lots of history all there in one spot.

 

[Honu]

TacoDoc
fun to read others adventures especially when it has water in it

I went to HS near Poulsbo area so remember bumertown(Bremerton) well but over half my life was on Maui so love the islands and any island really

about ten years ago I had the rare opportunity to dive and take photos on the USS Arizona have a super cool shot of the #1 turret disapearing into the green water

 

[DiploStrat]

Iowa Class

I have squids on both side of my family - USN and RN and I spent a summer on AO-57 (USS Marias, aka, The Merry MMM, Passin' Gas), so I love ships with fine lines. Nothing is finer than the Iowa class BB.

Mooring her on Battleship Row, near the Arizona has a wonder alpha-omega symbolism, but I'll take it. Especially when I consider the alternative.

Have a great trip:

-- Shish Kebab
-- Pita Bread
-- Hummus
-- Coffee
-- Etc.

 

[Dave Bennett]

But Wait, There's More!

Here are some more of my favorite pics.

Burmese Buddhist Temple in Penang, supposedly the only Burmese Buddhist Temple in Malaysia

The worlds largest sleeping Buddha, Thai Buddhist Temple, Penang

The Marine War Dog Memorial on Guam

Might Mo, USS Missouri BB63, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

USS Arizona Memorial, Pearl Harbor

Outside the Thai Buddhist Temple, Penang

Training with the Maldives National Defence Force, Madivaru, Maldives

 

[Willman]

Right on Dave

Thanks for your service!

Looks like you have a dream job traveling the world!

Keep up the great work

 

[Dave Bennett]

Camels doing as they please on the road from Salalah to Thumrait, Oman.

Our gas station at sea courtesy of the Military Sealift Command, mid Pacific

Monkeys fist across their bow to get the lines across for underway refueling

Topping off in some pretty good seas

 

[DiploStrat]

Did you ever ...

know a camel to NOT do as it pleased?

Nasty (if useful) beasts!

Have a great trip.

 

[Dave Bennett]

know a camel to NOT do as it pleased?

Nasty (if useful) beasts!

Have a great trip.

They do tend to do whatever they want, usually in the middle of the road :Wow1:

Flying into Madivaru, Maldives via CH-46. Unbelievable coral reefs and marine life await!

Here is our combined medical and dental crew on Madivaru. We used this island as a basecamp during our four day medical and dental mission providing care for the inhabitants of two neighboring islands, Naifaru and Hinnavaru

We saw over 1,000 combined medical and dental patients over the course of four days in the Maldives

Thai Buddhist Temple, Penang, Malaysia

Tiger Beer, keow teoy chow, chicken curry and rice at a street cafe in Batu Ferringhi, Penang

 

[DiploStrat]

Unreps

Great pictures of the UNREPS! All ram tension at all points! A L O N G way from the Marias in the late '60's! (Bet they even have a/c in the berthing spaces.) (Wimps!)

 

[Dave Bennett]

Great pictures of the UNREPS! All ram tension at all points! A L O N G way from the Marias in the late '60's! (Bet they even have a/c in the berthing spaces.) (Wimps!)

Thanks!

I cant comment on the older equipment but the current stuff works great. These two ships were doing a real ballet considering that sea state (it was a wee bit windy and rough that day).

And yes, a/c is standard in all berthings nowadays. The staterooms are especially plush by Navy standards :ylsmoke: